Family Events and Exhibitions

EVENTS and EXHIBITIONS

Events details were correct at the time of publication.

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FAMILY EVENTS AT THE HORNIMAN HORNIMAN MUSEUM and gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23, 020 8699 1872, www.horniman.ac.uk Museum open 10.30am-5.30pm daily, general admission free, charges apply for special exhibitions and the aquarium. The museum's music gallery and hands-on base, regular weekend and holiday drop-ins and workshops allow family visitors to explore the collection through arts and crafts, music, stories and hands-on sessions. All this within 16 acres of beautiful green space.

EXTREMES, until 2 November. Calling all explorers. Go on an expedition to see how animals and plants survive in extreme heat, cold, dryness and constant darkness or with little oxygen, in the museum's new family-friendly exhibition. Book tickets first.

ALL ABOARD! Let your under 6 'drive' a scaled-down bus, train, tube or taxi , complete with passengers. They can also take control of the transport system, moving buses and trains around the museum's miniature London.

FAMILY STATION, weekends and school holidays. Pick up a free coin bag and choose some activities to do as you explore the Museum. Whether you fold your own bus and drive it between the vehicles, design your own poster-postcards or take photos through flickr frames, there is something here for families with children of all ages.

THE ADVENTURES OF CONSTANCE THE CLIPPIE, 28 July - 1 August and 18-22 August. Listen to Constance the 'conductorette' as she teaches you her clever tricks for catching thieves and cheats who try to short-change her and dodge paying their fares under the cover of darkness. Aged 3 to 7, starts 11am and 2pm. Make a stash of clay coins before stitching yourself a secret pouch in which to hide them. Ages 4-12, drop in 11.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30 to 3.45pm.

BE SAFE WEEK, 11-15 August. Go undercover and dash between different transport safety scenarios, solving clues and learning from the professionals. Get your fingerprints taken and learn how the police gather evidence, become a bike safety detective and identify different particles of objects. Each young person that completes the circuit will go into a prize draw.

PIGEON POST, 4-8 and 25-29 August. Percy and Penny Pigeons are in love, but Percy is in Belgium and Penny is in France, kept apart by their code-carrying wartime missions - can you help them reunite? Ages 3 to 7, drop in between 11am and 2pm. Make your own secret messages and take them home with your specially made carrier pigeon. Ages 6 to 12, drop in between 11.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30 to 3.45pm.

ARTPLAY, first and last Sunday of each month. Creative drop-in workshops for adults and children, with a different activity each session. Make anything and everything from bunting to block printing and all things in between. 2-3.45pm.

FREE FAMILY TRAIL. Ask a gallery assistant or stop by at the Gallery Friends desk for a free trail; updated frequently and available for the permanent and temporary exhibitions.

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VIEW FROM THE SHARD THE SHARD, London Bridge SE1 9RN, 08444 997111, www.theviewfromtheshard.com/ The View from The Shard provides families with an unforgettable experience as it is the only place you can see all of London, all at once. Whether it's your first stop or last stop to watch the sunset and city lights turn on, it is the perfect place to nurture a child's fascination with the history of London. From the spectacular 64km (40 mile), 360-degree view, families can spot both modern and historic landmarks, including The Houses of Parliament, The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the Olympic Park and Wembley Stadium. Open from 9am to 10pm daily. Adult tickets from £24.95 when booked ahead.

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ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH National Maritime Museum, Queen's House and Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark, Greenwich SE10, 020 8858 4422, www.rmg.co.uk.

Royal Museum Greenwich hold the world's largest maritime collection. It is housed in historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. It incorporates the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the 17th-century Queen's House and Cutty Sark. The Museum works to illustrate for everyone the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people, and is also a major centre of education and research. Explore Saturdays, Discover Sundays and Play Tuesdays offer arts and crafts, music and playtime for for children, based on exhibits throughout the collections. Open 10am-5pm daily. General admission free; some buildings and exhibitions have an admission fee.

EXPLORE SATURDAYS. Meet a character from the past and take part in an exciting performance that brings maritime history to life. Suitable for ages 6+. Noon, 1, 2 and 3pm start, free.

DISCOVER SUNDAYS. Be inspired by the museum's galleries and take part in free design, craft, illustration and music workshops designed for families. Suitable for all ages. 11.30am-1.30pm and 2-5pm, free.

PLAY TUESDAYS. Young children can have fun with their families as they explore the museum through making, music, dance and drama. 10.30 and 11.30am, 1 and 2pm, suitable for under 5s; collect a ticket from the admissions desk.

AHOY THERE! 24 July - 29 August. Set sail on a journey of discovery with free family events, activities and exploration across the summer holidays at the National Maritime Museum. In 'A place called home', discover how the sea has made its mark on land, people and their sense of ‘home’ through free activities for all ages in the museum's ‘Nelson, Navy, Nation’ gallery.

LONGITUDE PUNK'D. Until 4 January 2015. The Royal Observatory celebrates the creations of wacky inventors, star-gazing scientists and extremely elegant explorers of the 18th-century. Nine UK 'Steampunk' artists have created new works inspired by the technical inventions that were presented to the Board of Longitude between 1714 and 1828. 10am-5pm.

MEET THE TIME TRAVELLERS, Weekends and holiday weekdays throughout June. Meet time-travelling Astronomer Royal Nevil Maskelyne or his human computer Mary Edwards next to the Steampunk time machine in the Meridian Courtyard and find out about their life and work at Greenwich in the 18th-century. 12noon, 1, 2 and 3pm, ages 7+.

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CUTTY SARKCUTTY SARK, King William Walk, Greenwich SE10 9HT, 020 8858 2698, rmg.co.uk/cuttysark The world famous 19th century tea clipper offers visitors four levels to explore. Take in the views from the main deck and steer at the ship's wheel, meet the crew who worked on board, explore the various cargoes from wool to whiskey, and see how tea was loaded on board through interactive displays, props, information boards and animations. Family friendly events run at weekends and during school holidays. Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Sundays, admission £6.50 children, £12 adults, from £20 families. Bundled tickets are available with the other Royal Museum Greenwich attractions.

EXPLORE SATURDAYS. Meet a character from the past and take part in an exciting performance that brings maritime history to life. Suitable for ages 6+. Noon, 1, 2 and 3pm start, free with admission ticket.

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUMThreadneedle Street, London EC2R, 020 7601 5545, www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum The Bank of England Museum tells the story of the Bank of England from its foundation in 1694 to its role today as the UK's central bank. Examine intricately-designed banknotes, feel the weight of a genuine gold bar and see the pikes and muskets that were once used to defend the Bank. Children's activity sheets provide fun for younger visitors. Open 10am-5pm Mondays to Fridays, admission free.

CURIOSITIES FROM THE VAULTS, until 11 July. A unique opportunity to see some unusual treasures from the Bank's historical collections. The curators have searched the vaults for intriguing artefacts, from archaeological discoveries to mystery objects. This exhibition tells their surprising stories.

DESIGN YOUR OWN BANKNOTE, 23 July - 29 August. What makes bank notes difficult to copy and forge? Find out how security features work, then design your very own banknote to take home. The activities include a quiz and interactive talk at 1pm. 10.30am - 4.30pm, free.

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IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUMfrom 19 July, IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM, Lambeth Road, London SE1, 020 7416 5000, www.iwm.org.uk IWM London has been transformed with brand new, ground-breaking First World War Galleries alongside a new central atrium space with large object displays, new shops and cafes. Admission free.

FIRST WORLD WAR GALLERIES. Discover the story of the war - how it started, why it continued and its global impact, through the lives of those who experienced it at the time on both the front line and the home front across Britain and its empire.

ATRIUM AND TERRACED GALLERIES. 'Witness to War' displays nine iconic objects including a Harrier, Spitfire and V2 rocket suspended from above, as well as a T34 tank and a Reuters LandRover damaged by rocket attack in Gaza. Levels 1 to 3 tell key stories from the Second World War to modern day conflicts, though curated displays using both large objects and other materials from IWM's collections, including film and artworks.

FORGET ME NOT: POSTCARDS FROM THE FRONT, 28 July - 10 August and 18-24 August. Take part in a commemorative art project that looks at embroidered postcards sent between loved ones at home in Britain and soldiers fighting abroad in the summer and autumn of 1914. This drop-in activity will give families the chance to sew personal postcards to take away. 11am-12.30pm and 2-4pm daily.

OBJECT CONVERSATIONS, Sundays from 20 July. In these new immersive object handling sessions, families can explore objects from our collections and they connect with iconic objects on display in our new atrium and Terraced Galleries. Feel the weight of a shrapnel piece from the First World War and come to grips with real objects from the museum's collections. 11am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.

CREATIVE RESPONSE, Sundays from 20 July. Make a creative response to themes held within the new atrium and Terraced Galleries as a drawing, a photograph or a postcard. 11am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.

A FAMILY IN WARTIME. Explores the lives of William and Alice Allpress and their ten children and what life in London was like during the war. A Family in Wartime is brought to life through interactive exhibits, photographs, recorded interviews with the family, archive film footage, paintings, personal documents and an intricate model of the Allpress family home.

After the fire at Walworth Town Hall in March, the Cuming Museum's home site is currently closed, however activities are continuing in temporary accommodation at InSpire.

FAMILY CLUB, every Thursday. Explore and play with the Cuming explorers, with a different theme each week inspired by the museum collection. 10am-11.15am for under 5s and their parents/ carers.

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THE FOUNDLING MUSEUM 40 Brunswick Square, Camden Town WC1N 1AZ, 020 7841 3600, www.foundlingmuseum.org.ukBritain's first home for abandoned children and London's first public art gallery, The Foundling Museum reveals the stories of the Foundling Hospital's founder Thomas Coram, the artist William Hogarth and composer George Frideric Handel. It houses significant collections of eighteenth-century art, interiors, social history and music. Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays and from 11am Sundays. Admission free for under 16s, £8.25 adults.

INTRODUCTORY GALLERY. Showcasing a decade's research into the Hospital's archive, the introductory gallery takes visitors on an emotional journey through the history of London's first home for children who would otherwise have been abandoned. New displays of favourite objects offer visitors greater access and depth of information, while previously unseen items shed new light on the Foundling Hospital story.

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NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM, Royal Hospital Road SW3 4HT, 020 7881 6606, www.nam.ac.uk

The history of British land forces from 1485 to the present day, with costumes, paintings, artefacts and special displays telling the stories of men and women who served in British armies across the globe. Open 10am-5.30pm daily, admission free.

ACTIONS ZONES: VICTORIAN SOLDIERS. Quizzes, games and hands-on activities help you learn about life as a Victorian Soldier and the part they played in the shaping of Britain's Empire. Free.

KID'S ZONE. A play area where children can explore aspects of army life from camping to clothing, including a dedicated soft play space for babies, plus art and crafts, dressing-up costumes, books, interactive toys and panels, and a dedicated soft play space for babies.

DRAW YOUR WEAPONS. A colourful and dynamic exhibition exploring the history of the war comic, in partnership with leading publisher DC Thomson.

Discover the exciting stories of those who served HMS Belfast; exploring the nine decks where sailors once hurried up and down its ladders, or take a look at the mess desk where her 950-strong crew ate and slept. Open 10am-5pm, admission free for under 16s, £13.50 adults.

GUN TURRET EXPERIENCE. Immerse yourself in the new Gun Turret Experience, a chance to see what fighting at sea would have really been like. Overlooking the front of the ship, or Fo'c'sle, is the forward most of HMS Belfast's Triple Gun Turrets. Lights, audio, videos and projections will recreate the experience, highlighting the hectic and cramped conditions that would have seen twenty-six men in this confined space at any one time. The guns are trained and elevated onto a target some 12.5 miles (20 kilometres) away in north-west London - the London Gateway Motorway Services Area on the M1 - a reminder of the awesome power of naval gunnery in the Second World War. Entry included in general admission price.

GEFFRYE MUSEUM, Kingsland Road E2 8EA, 020 7739 9893, www.geffrye-museum.org.uk Special workshops and quizzes inspire creativity and provide amusement for accompanied 5-11 year-olds on the first Saturday of each month and during school holidays. Places allocated 30 minutes in advance of each workshop. Museum open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, from noon Sundays.

Open daily 10am-6pm, admission free. Regular programmes of weekend and holiday events and workshops help visitors find out more about London's history, covering events such as the Great Plague, Londoners' jobs and occupations, and Roman life.

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V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green E2 9PA, 020 8983 5200, www.museumofchildhood.org.ukThis gem of a museum is fascinating for families with young children. The collection includes dolls, dolls' houses, puppets, teddy bears, games, childcare, clothing, furniture and art and photography. Everyday drop-in activities include storytelling, arts and crafts, and trails. There's dressing-up, role play and an under 3's area, an indoor sandpit, and regular special events. If it's sunny there's an outdoor space to enjoy a picnic. Open 10am-5.45pm daily, admission free.

DAYDREAMS AND DIARIES, THE STORY OF JACQUELINE WILSON, until 2 November. Delve into Jacqueline Wilson's life and work and find inspiration in the settings where she came up with some of the ideas for her most famous books. The exhibition begins with a replica of the childhood bedroom where she developed her love for reading and finishes with a mock-up of the study in which she now works. Also on display will be short stories and diaries written by Jacqueline as a young girl, showing the origins of her talent for writing, while annotated drafts of favourites such as Tracy Beaker and the later work Hetty Feather will give fans further insight in to these well loved stories.

TOY STORIES, until 14 December. An exhibition of photographs by Gabriele Galimberti explores the role and function of toys in the lives of children around the world. The collection reflects the impact of the children's backgrounds and families on their choice of toys and highlights the universality of play.

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TOWER OF LONDON TOWER OF LONDON, EC3N 4AB, 0844 482 7777, www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondonTower open 9am-5.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 10am Sundays and Mondays. Admission free for under 5s, children £10.75, adults £21.45; book for less online.

ROYAL BEASTS. Find out about the Tower's imperial Royal Menagerie. Founded during the reign of King John in the early 1200s, it became a regular feature of the Tower for over 600 years. Visitors can encounter a diverse cast of former Tower residents through arresting modern animal sculpture by artist Kendra Haste and new interactive sensory displays. The recently restored north wall walk and the never before opened Brick Tower will host some of the displays, including sights, sounds and smells of some of the animals.

FIT FOR A KING. Discover 500 years of spectacular arms and armour worn by kings and royal princes in this stunning exhibition on the first floor of the White Tower. Learn about the personalities, power and physical size of our nation's kings, from the Tudors, and the notorious Henry VIII, to today's royal family through the historic collection.

POWER HOUSE. Discover the stories and personalities behind the major organisations of state, who took care of royal business behind the mighty Tower walls, from 1100 to the present day. The exhibition showcases the roles of the major organisations that provided the bedrock of England's power throughout the centuries.

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LONDON BRIDGE EXPERIENCE 2-4 Tooley Street SE1 2PF, 08000 434 666, www.thelondonbridgeexperience.com Get ready for the biggest fright of your life as you journey ever deeper into the horror that is the London Tombs on a thrilling journey that uses the latest in Hollywood style wizardry and hilarious live actors. Formerly a plague pit, the venue has walls that are dripping in blood, confined spaces, spiders, snakes, ghosts and ghouls, and many other horrors. Staff are on hand at all times for those of you who just find it a little too much and have to leave. For those less brave the Guardian Angel tour is advised (suitable for under 11s), with special guides accompanying younger visitors to protect them from anything too frightening. Tickets from £20.

Visit the Churchill War Rooms, part of Imperial War Museums, to discover the original Cabinet War Rooms, the wartime bunker which sheltered Churchill and his staff during the Blitz. Explore the historic rooms to experience the secret history that lives on underground. Look through the lens of history into the Map Room where the books and charts have remained exactly where they were left when the door was locked in 1945. Discover the stories of those who worked underground as London was being bombed above them, and explore the life and legacy of Winston Churchill in the interactive Churchill Museum. Open 9.30am-6pm, last admission 5pm. Entry free for under 16s, £16.50 adults.

Open daily 10am-6pm, admission free. Regular programmes of weekend and holiday events and workshops help visitors find out more about London's history, covering events such as the Great Plague, Londoners' jobs and occupations, and Roman life.

Firepower, the Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich tells the powerful and dramatic story of artillery, scientific discoveries made through warfare and human stories of courage and endeavour. The 'ground shaking' Field of Fire audio-visual show puts you in the midst of battle as shells whizz overhead and guns roar.

The Royal Arsenal was one of the most important centres in the world for munitions manufacture and until recently was a well kept secret from the public. Many of the guns and carriages on display were made in the Arsenal, making it a significant part of the local heritage. Together with a world class collection of artillery and associated weapons, uniforms, drawings, displays of diaries and medals bring together some 700 years of world artillery history, Open 10.30am-6pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, closed on Sundays and Mondays. Admission £2.50 children, £5.30 adults, £12.50 families.

The full-size replica of Sir Frances Drake's 16th century galleon is great fun for children with a piratical bent, and an opportunity to lean about life on the high seas during the Tudor era. Costumed staff add to the experience, and at weekends you can book children's parties. Self-guided admission £4.40 children, £6 adults, £18 families.

luxurious North Tower Lounge, the majestic Victorian Engine Rooms and the charming Bridge Master's Dining Room. Enjoy stunning London views from over the Thames and continue to the Victorian Engine Rooms to learn about the inner workings of the most famous bridge in the World. There's a free app, where you can play games and learn more about the iconic landmark before your visit. Open 10am-6pm until September, 9.30am-5.30pm from October. Admission £3.40 children, £8 adults, family tickets from £12.50.

BRIDGE LIFT, various dates. Tower Bridge still lifts to enable large ships to pass through - check the website before your visit to add to the excitement.

THIS IS LONDON. An exhibition of artwork by M. Sasek's from the charming classic children's book, depicting famous London sights such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and London Underground. Younger visitors will be provided with colouring sheets to create their own masterpiece.

Dinosaurs, volcanoes, precious gems and creepy crawlies - discover the diversity of the natural world through the nation's finest collection of natural history specimens. Fascinating exhibitions display up to 70 million plants, animals, fossils, rocks and minerals, with a hands-on education centre where you can meet real scientists at work. Museum open 10am-5.50pm, admission free.

TREASURES. The museum showcases 22 of the most valuable and significant items in its collections. This cabinet of curiosities includes unique, famous and surprising specimens from the worlds of botany, mineralogy, zoology and palaeontology. Highlights include the famous fossil of Archaeopteryx lithographica, which showed that modern birds are the descendants of small meat-eating dinosaurs. Also on show are the dinosaur teeth discovered by Mary Ann Mantell, which inspired the theory that giant reptiles once walked the Earth, and a rare first edition of Darwin's On the Origin of Species. Free.

ONE MILLION YEARS OF THE HUMAN STORY. What was Britain like when the first humans arrived on its shores? Travel back in time nearly one million years to uncover what life was really like for our ancient relatives. £4.50 children, £9 adults.

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SCIENCE MUSEUM EVENTS

THE SCIENCE MUSEUM, Exhibition Road SW7 2DD, 0870 870 4868, www.sciencemuseum.org.ukFor 100 years the Science Museum has been world-renowned for its historic collection, remarkable galleries and inspirational exhibitions. Aiming to be the best place in the world for people to enjoy science, the museum makes sense of the science that shapes our lives, sparking curiosity, releasing creativity and changing the future by engaging people of all generations and backgrounds in science, engineering, medicine, technology, design and enterprise. Take your children to Launchpad - the largest free interactive science gallery in the UK, which is packed with exhibits which allow visitors to launch a rocket, turn their head into a sound box and control a magnetic cloud. Catch one of the spectacular science shows performed by Explainers throughout the day. Ideal for children aged 8-14 years old. Museum open daily 10am-6pm.

LAUNCHPAD SCIENCE SHOWS. The largest free interactive science gallery in the UK is packed with exhibits which allow visitors to launch a rocket, turn their head into a sound box and control a magnetic cloud. Ages 8-14, free.

WHO AM I? Find out what makes you special through interactive activities which use the latest in brain science and genetics. Free.

COCKROACH TOURS, weekends. Dressed in realistic cockroach costumes, visitors journey through the museum, exploring the impact on the climate of scientific and technological developments, from the perspective of one of the oldest, most resilient life forms on the planet. Book first on 0870 870 4868.

Explore the world's rivers, oceans and reefs and come face to face with the life that inhabits them. Open 10am-7pm daily, admission from £12.96 children, £17.82 adults, family tickets available.

BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS whisk visitors right into the heart of the aquarium to discover what it takes to keep everything running smoothly. You can see the dedicated aquarists at work on research and breeding programmes, caring for sick creatures and new arrivals, preparing food and monitoring the sophisticated water management systems. Tickets can be booked online or purchased on entry; £5 children, £7.50 adults.

Have you ever come face to face with a ring tailed lemur? Or popped up right beside a meerkat? Have you spent time with Kune Kune pigs, seen an otter at work, chatted with a mynah bird or patted a pygmy goat? From giant rabbits to miniature Shetland ponies, monkey mayhem to the mouse house - this is the zoo that gets you up close and personal. Open 10am-4.30pm. Admission £6.50 children, £7.95 adults, £26 families.

STORYTIME WEDNESDAYS, Join the zoo staff for a story and colouring in fun. From 11am.

Uncover the lady behind the legend on London's South Bank. The museum presents a vivid retelling of Florence Nightingale's life and how modern nursing began. The museum's unparalleled collection features highlights such as Florence's pet little owl Athena as well as her lamp and medicine chest from the Crimean War. Engaging interactive exhibits as well as regular contemporary art exhibitions enhance the experience, visitors even use stethoscopes to hear the audio tour. Admission £4.80 child, £5.80 adults, £16 families.

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NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM Royal Hospital Road SW3 4HT, 020 7881 6606, www.nam.ac.uk The history of British land forces from 1485 to the present day, with costumes, paintings, artefacts and special displays telling the stories of men and women who served in British armies across the globe. Open 10am-5.30pm daily, admission free.

ACTION ZONES. Learn about life as a Victorian soldier or World War evacuee through quizzes, games and hands-on activities.